Museums in Mantova

May first is a holiday in Italy, as it is in most of Europe. So, Both John and Thomas were home. We just did chores around the house, cut the grass, and enjoyed the warm weather while sitting out on our patio.

Saturday, however, was our day to do some exploring. Mantova is a beautiful, and quite famous, small city at the other end of Lombardy. We left home early in the morning and spent the whole day wandering around this fascinating city. It's situated near large lakes, and is nearly surrounded by a beautiful park that stretches along the shorelines. The city is home to a great astronomical clock-tower, a huge basilica, and the Palazzo Ducale. The Palazzo is a mammoth, maze-like museum that houses some incredible art and historical artifacts. It was a day well spent.